Included genera

Aspinochilus gen. n.; Citharognathus Pocock, 1895; Cyriopagopus Simon, 1887; Lampropelma Simon, 1892; Melognathus Chamberlin, 1917; Omothymus Thorell, 1891; Ornithoctonus Pocock, 1892; Phormingochilus Pocock, 1895; Taksinus Songsangchote, Sippawat, Khaikaew & Chomphuphuang, 2022.

Type species: Aspinochilus rufus gen. et sp. n.

Etymology

The name “Aspinochilus” (gender: masculine) refers to the lack of tibial spination, which distinguishes the type species A. rufus sp. n. from other genera within this subfamily, and to the close relationship with the genus Phormingochilus.

Diagnosis

Aspinochilus gen. n. differs from other genera of the subfamily Ornithoctoninae by the absent or very sparse (at most only 1 spine on a single tibia of the palps or legs) spination of the tibiae of the palps and legs I–IV in both males and females. Furthermore, females of Aspinochilus gen. n. can be distinguished from female Citharognathus by the absence of incrassate tibiae and metatarsi IV (Fig. 2). Females can be distinguished from female Cyriopagopus and Ornithoctonus by the low caput and clypeus narrower than width of median ocular quadrangle (Fig. 2), as well as by the clearly divided spermatheca with twin seminal receptacles (Fig. 14) (Smith & Jacobi 2015; Songsangchote et al. 2022). The new genus can be distinguished from Taksinus by the absence of tibial spines at the apex of the segments of the palps and legs I–IV. Furthermore, the RF of T. bambus has a value of around 90 (Songsangchote et al. 2022), indicating noticeably longer hindlegs than in A. rufus sp. n., where a value around 100 was measured. Females of the new genus can be distinguished from females of the genera Lampropelma, Omothymus and Phormingochilus by the absence of combs of spines at the apex of tibia I (Figs. 29–30).

Distribution

Only known from the type locality of the type species in Indonesia, East Java, at Argopuro Mountain.

Type material

Holotype ♂: Indonesia, East Java, Argopuro Mountain, 900 m, [8.061111°S, 113.527222°E], XII.2022, SMNSAran-004012 (SMNS).

Paratypes (same locality data as holotype; all SMNS except where stated otherwise): 3 ♂, 8 ♀, 24.X.2015, (♂) SMNSAran-003476 (to be deposited in SMNK), SMNS-Aran-004005 (to be deposited in SMF), SMNS-Aran-004006 (to be deposited in MBBJ), (♀) SMNS-Aran-003477, SMNS-Aran-004286, SMNS-Aran-004001, SMNS-Aran-004002 (to be deposited in MBBJ), SMNS-Aran-004003 (to be deposited in SMNK), SMNS-Aran-004004 (to be deposited in SMF), SMNSAran-004007, SMNS-Aran-004008; 1 ♂, 14.IX.2022, SMNSAran-004009; 1 ♂, 31.VII.2021, SMNS-Aran-004010; 1 ♂, IX.2021, SMNS-Aran-004011; 1 ♀, 2020, SMNS-Aran-004316 (to be deposited in ZMHB); 1 ♂, 2020, SMNS-Aran-004317 (to be deposited in ZMHB).

Remarks. Specimens collected in 2015 originated from the type locality, while the others were bred from specimens from the type locality. In bred specimens, the date marks the date of preservation.

Etymology

The specific epithet “rufus” refers to the distinctive red color of the body, especially in females.

Diagnosis

See generic diagnosis.

Description

Holotype ♂ (SMNS-Aran-004012). Total length (including chelicera, excluding spinnerets): 26.9 mm. Carapace: 11.3 mm (length), 10.1 mm (width), caput profile low, not elevated above carapace surface. Ocular tubercle 2.6 mm (width); clypeus absent. Fovea straight to slightly procurved and narrow, width: 1.3 mm. Sternum: 5.5 mm (length), 5.0 mm (width), with three pairs of sternal sigilla and two adjacent mounds at the labiosternal suture. RF = 107. Legs: I, IV, II, III, moderately large, legs I and IV almost equal in length. Spination: apex of tibiae of legs I, II, III and IV without spines; apex of metatarsi III and IV with three ventral (1 m, 1 pv, 1 rv) and two dorsal (1 pd, 1 rd) spines. Tibial apophysis (pv) on leg I present (Figs. 17, 18). Stridulatory organ on prolateral face of palpal coxa consisting of two rows with a total of 11 spines almost parallel to the suture (Fig. 16); 5 additional spines above the suture in one row parallel to the suture.

Coloration. Specimen of an indistinct pale brownish coloration, with indistinct fishbone patterns, less prominent than those observed in the female (compare Figs. 1 and 2).

Genitalia. Palpal bulb slender and twisted, embolus slightly curved inwards, with no apical swelling or pointed apex (Figs. 9–13).

Paratypes (♂♀). Total length (including chelicera, excluding spinnerets): 27.9–38.8 mm in males; 37.9–57.5 mm in females. Carapace: 11.3–15.0 mm (length) x 11.0–13.3 mm (width) in males, 15.9–21.3 mm (length) x 12.8–16.0 mm (width) in females; caput profile low in both sexes. Ocular tubercle: 2.6–3.3 mm width in males, 3.1–3.9 mm width in females; clypeus absent in both sexes. Fovea straight to slightly procurved and narrow, 1.3–1.8 mm width in males, 1.8–3.8 mm width in females. Sternum length: 5.3–7.4 mm in males, 6.3–10.0 mm in females; sternum 4.2–6.2 mm in males (width), 5.8–8.1 mm in females (width); with three pairs of sternal sigilla and two adjacent mounds at the labiosternal suture in both sexes. RF = 100. Legs: (I∼IV) II, III/I, IV, II, III, moderately large, legs I and IV almost equal in length. Apex of tibiae of legs I, II, III and IV without spines. Spination: apex of metatarsi III with two ventral (1 m, 1 pv) spines in both sexes; apex of metatarsi IV with two ventral (1 m, 1 pv) spines, one additional retroventral spine observed in two male specimens. Stridulatory organ on prolateral face of palpal coxa consisting of two rows with a total of 12–15 spines almost parallel to the suture in both sexes; 5–7 additional spines above the suture in one row parallel to the suture in both sexes.

Coloration. Sexual dichromatism observable. Female body reddish-brown, with femora covered with hairs of an intensive red colour; abdomen with a clear fishbone pattern and carapace pale with radial stripes (Fig. 2). In alcohol, the coloration of males is indistinctive brown. Sexual dichromatism is observable, with males exhibiting less defined fishbone patterns than females. In alcohol, the coloration of specimens is indistinctive brown.

Genitalia. Female: spermatheca clearly divided into two drumstick-shaped seminal receptacles, with an apical swelling (Fig. 14). Male genitalia as in holotype.

Biology

Juvenile specimens were found both near the roots and higher up in trees, building silken tubes inside the root network. The tubes were well camouflaged and covered with soil, leaves and mosses. Adult females were found in tree hollows or branch forks at heights of around two meters. At night, the spiders are easier to locate using a powerful flashlight, though they often retreat into their burrows upon disturbance. These observations were made by FRANK SCHNEIDER during specimen collection.

Habitat

Mount Argopuro (3,088 m; 10,131 ft.) is a stratovolcano complex located in East Java, Indonesia. The area surrounding the mountain is constituted of rough landscape and primary montane rainforest (Figs. 3, 4). Due to deforestation and agricultural cultivation, the habitat of this species is strongly threatened. It is therefore more urgent than ever to describe the unknown biodiversity of this region, as only then it can contribute to informing conservation measures aimed at counteracting the habitat loss.

Distribution

Mount Argopuro, East Java, Indonesia.

Remark

This species is already widespread in the tarantula community, as it is known to be easy to rear in captivity.

Phormingochilus Pocock, 1895: 180 (type species: Phormingochilus everetti Pocock, 1895; gender masculine; Indonesia). References: Strand (1906: 6; description of Phormingochilus fuchsi Strand, 1906 [Sumatra]); Smith (1986: 107; identification key for Ornithoctoninae); Smith (1994: 19; redescription of Phormingochilus tigrinus Pocock, 1895); Schmidt (2003: 253; identification key for Ornithoctoninae); Schmidt & Barensteiner (2015: 4–9; description of Lampropelma nigerrimum arboricola Schmidt & Barensteiner, 2015 [unknown]); Smith & Jacobi (2015: 30; revision of the genus Phormingochilus and description of Phormingochilus pennellhewlettorum Smith & Jacobi, 2015 [as “pennellhewletti”, see World Spider Catalog 2024]);Gabriel & Sherwood (2019: 141; transfer of Lampropelma nigerrimum arboricola Schmidt & Barensteiner, 2015).

Remarks

The genus Phormingochilus was described by Pocock (1895) based on the type species Phormingochilus everetti Pocock, 1895. Pocock (1895) described Phormingochilus tigrinus Pocock, 1895 as a new species for this genus. Smith & Jacobi (2015) described Phormingochilus pennellhewlettorum. Gabriel & Sherwood (2019) raised the subspecies Lampropelma nigerrimum arboricola to species rank and transferred it to Phormingochilus. The validity of the genus was questioned by Smith & Jacobi (2015), who stated that it could be a synonym of Omothymus.

Pocock (1895) separated the genus Phormingochilus from Omothymus by the shape of the sternum, which, according to Pocock , should be narrowed anteriorly in Phormingochilus but oval and as wide between the first as between the third pair of legs in Omothymus. According to our investigations, no clear differences could be observed among specimens of both genera regarding this feature.

Generic placement

The comb of spines at the apex of tibia I distinguishes females of P. hatihati sp. n. (Figs. 31, 32) from those of Aspinochilus gen. n. Phormingochilus hatihati sp. n. could be assigned to any one of the arboreal genera Lampropelma, Omothymus or Phormingochilus by having clypeus small, leg IV not incrassate (Fig. 6) and spermatheca clearly divided into two seminal receptacles (Fig. 24) (Schmidt 2003). However, it can be excluded from Lampropelma and Omothymus by the absence of an apical swelling and the absence of a pointed apex on the male palpal bulb (Figs. 19–23), and must therefore be assigned to the genus Phormingochilus (see Gabriel & Sherwood 2019).

Taxonomic remark

The applicability of characters for the delineation of the tree-dwelling genera Lampropelma, Omothymus and Phormingochilus needs to be re-evaluated, as a high degree of morphological similarity between the three genera suggests a closer relationship than previously assumed. Due to this high morphological similarity, the relationship between these three genera must be investigated within the framework of a comprehensive molecular analysis of the entire subfamily, which is beyond the scope of the present work but already in preparation.

Type material

Holotype ♂: Indonesia, West Sulawesi, Tammajarra, Polewali Mandar [3.4825°S, 119.031944°E], 28.XII.2021, SMNS-Aran-004051 (SMNS).

Paratypes (all SMNS except where stated otherwise): 1 ♂, SMNS-Aran-004033; 1 ♂, SMNS-Aran-004034 (to be deposited in MBBJ); 1 ♂, 12.V.2020, SMNS-Aran-004035 (to be deposited in SMF); 1 ♂, 31.VII.2020, SMNS-Aran-004054 (to be deposited in ZMHB); 1 ♀, 2018, SMNS-Aran-004052; 1 ♀, 31.VII.2020, SMNS-Aran-004053; 1 ♂, 2022, SMNS-Aran-004036; 5 ♂, 2013, SMNS-Aran-004280, SMNS-Aran-004281, SMNS-Aran-004282 (to be deposited in SMNK), SMNS-Aran-004283, SMNS-Aran-004284, 1 ♀, SMNS-Aran-004285; 1 ♀, 2023, SMNS-Aran-004042 (to be deposited in SMF).

Remarks. All specimens originated from the type locality or were bred from specimens from the type locality. In bred specimens, the date marks the date of preservation.

Etymology

The specific epithet “hatihati” (a noun in apposition) refers to the general Indonesian translation of the word “caution”, as found in dictionaries.

Description

Holotype ♂ (SMNS-Aran-004051). Total length (including chelicera, excluding spinnerets): 37.6 mm. Carapace: 14.9 mm (length), 13.6 mm (width), caput profile low. Ocular tubercle: 3.3 mm (width); clypeus absent. Fovea straight to slightly procurved and narrow: 1.5 mm (width). Sternum: 7.2 mm (length), 6.9 mm (width), with three pairs of sternal sigilla and two adjacent mounds at the labiosternal suture. Legs: RF = 100. (I∼IV)II, III; moderately large, legs I and IV almost equal in length. Legs with moderate spination: apex of tibiae II, III and IV armed with a pair of spines (1 pv, 1 rv); apex of metatarsi III and IV with three ventral (1 m, 1 pv, 1 rv) and two dorsal (1 pd, 1 rd) spines, apex of tibia I with a tibial apophysis (pv) and one rv spine (Figs. 27, 28). Stridulatory organ on the prolateral face of the palpal coxa consisting of two rows with a total of 11 spines parallel to the suture; with six additional spines above the suture (Fig. 26).

Coloration. Hairs on legs and abdomen of a less intense blackish coloration than in females; faint fishbone patterns on the abdomen (see Fig. 5). In alcohol, the coloration is an indistinct brown.

Genitalia. Palpal bulb slender and twisted, embolus slightly curved inwards, without an apical swelling or pointed apex (Figs. 19–23).

Paratypes (♂♀). Total length (including chelicera, excluding spinnerets): 29.0–37.6 mm in males, 31.7–53.5 mm in females. Carapace: 9.9–13.6 mm (length) x 11.5–16.1 mm (width) in males, 13.8–21.2 mm (length) x 12.9–17.4 mm (width) in females; caput profile low in both sexes. Ocular tubercle: 2.4–3.3 mm (width) in males, 3.3–3.8 mm (width) in females; clypeus absent in both sexes. Fovea straight to slightly procurved and narrow, 0.8–1.5 mm wide in males, 1.2–2.3 mm wide in females. Sternum length: 5.5–7.5 mm in males, 6.8–11.2 mm in females; sternum width 4.1–6.9 mm in males, 5.5–7.5 mm in females; with three pairs of sternal sigilla and two adjacent mounds at the labiosternal suture in both sexes. Legs: (I=IV) II, III / I, IV, II, III, moderately large, legs I and IV almost equal in length. RF = 100 (99–106). Legs with moderate spination: apex of tibiae II, III and IV with a pair of spines (1 pv, 1 rv) in both sexes; apex of metatarsi III and IV with three ventral (1 m, 1 pv, 1 rv) and two dorsal (1 pd, 1 rd) spines in both sexes; apex of tibia I with 1 pv tibial apophysis and 1 rv spine in males; with 3–5 pv and 2 rv spines in females. Stridulatory organ on prolateral face of palpal coxa consisting of two parallel rows below the suture with a range of 7–12 spines in both sexes; 5–9 additional spines above the suture and scattered on the whole surface in both sexes.

Coloration. Sexual dichromatism observable. In females, the legs and abdomen are dark greyish except for blackish femora; abdomen with a clear fishbone pattern and carapace pale with radial stripes (Fig. 6). In male, hairs on legs and abdomen of a less intense blackish coloration, with less clear abdominal fishbone patterns in the females (Fig. 5).

Genitalia. Female: spermatheca clearly divided into two drumstick-shaped seminal receptacles, with an apical swelling (Fig. 24).

Diagnosis

Females of Phormingochilus hatihati sp. n. can be distinguished from those of P. everettiby the absence of combs of spines at the apex of tibiae III and IV (Figs. 35–42). Males of P. hatihati sp. n. can be distinguished from those of P. everetti by the absence of a ventral angular mound on the palpal bulb, which forms a notch at the base of the embolus (Figs. 19–23). Phormingochilus pennellhewlettorum was described as a new species mainly based on coloration patterns. The distinct pale band at the apex of all leg segments mentioned by Smith & Jacobi (2015) is absent in P. hatihati sp. n. and is therefore seen as a feature distinguishing these two species. Furthermore, males of P. pennellhewlettorum have an additional rv spine on the apex of tibia I, which is absent in P. hatihati sp. n. males. Further investigation of the morphology of P. pennellhewlettorum is required to improve the delineation from its congeners. Phormingochilus hatihati sp. n. can be distinguished from P. arboricola by the absence of a comb of spines at the apex of metatarsi III and IV. Phormingochilus hatihati sp. n. can be distinguished from P. tigrinus Pocock, 1895 by the presence of one pl and one rl spine at the apex of the tibia of the palps in females, where P. tigrinus only has one pl spine. Further morphological investigations of P. tigrinus Pocock, 1895 are required to assess its delineation.

Biology

Adults were found by Frank Schneider in knotholes or forks in trees (Figs. 7, 8). After hatching, the juveniles disperse throughout the tree and are easy to recognize due to their light-colored appearance. However, many of them also prefer to stay close to the ground for several molts, moving to a different tree as adults.

Habitat

The specimens were found in secondary lowland rainforests and mango plantations on the outskirts of Tammajarra (Figs. 7, 8).

Distribution

Only known from the type locality in Tammajarra, Polewali Mandar, West Sulawesi, Indonesia.